A theoretical study of the influence of bone maturation rate on surface remodeling predictions: idealized models.

Abstract

The use of a finite element based computational method, RFEM3D, is described for the study of strain-induced bone remodeling. The purpose of the research is to find the potential influence on the predictions of surface bone remodeling when various models for the maturation of newly deposited bone are used. A parameter study is performed using seven hypothetical mechanical descriptions of the bone maturation process. The results show that, theoretically, the process of surface bone maturation may be an efficient mechanism for reducing overload strains in bone, but that differences as a consequence of using any of the proposed maturation rules are rather subtle.